A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school

Alejandro Ramírez-Contreras; Leopoldo Zúñiga-Silva; Ezequiel Ojeda-Gómez

doi:10.29333/iejme/13586

Full Text (PDF)

Alejandro Ramírez-Contreras ¹ ^* , Leopoldo Zúñiga-Silva ¹ , Ezequiel Ojeda-Gómez ¹

More Detail

¹ Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, MEXICO^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This paper reports on an exploratory study about probabilistic intuition in learning mathematics for decision-making. The analysis was carried out on a group of high school students in relation to their probabilistic intuition in problem-solving, after performing playful learning activities on a simulation platform specifically designed for this study. The analysis used a mixed qualitative-quantitative method. The results showed that the simulation activities facilitated the students’ probabilistic intuition and boosted their performance in solving problems, particularly avoiding decisions based on previous results (when unnecessary) and identifying situations, where binomial distribution can be used.

Keywords

didactic simulator
educational innovation
higher education
probabilistic intuition
Tec21

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

INT ELECT J MATH ED, Volume 18, Issue 4, November 2023, Article No: em0749

https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586

Publication date: 01 Oct 2023

Online publication date: 20 Aug 2023

Article Views: 1378

Article Downloads: 947

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

Abramovich, S., & Nikitin, Y. Y. (2017). Teaching classic probability problems with modern digital tools. Computers in the Schools, 34(4), 318-336. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380569.2017.1384687
Aizikovitsh-Udi, E., & Radakovic, N. (2012). Teaching probability by using GeoGebra dynamic tool and implementing critical thinking skills. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 4943-4947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.364
Alvarado, H., Estrella, S., Retamal, L., & Galindo, M. (2018). Intuiciones probabilísticas en estudiantes de ingeniería: Implicaciones para la enseñanza de la probabilidad [Probabilistic insights in engineering students: Implications for the teaching of probability]. Revista Latinoamericana de Investigación en Matemática Educativa [Latin American Journal of Research in Educational Mathematics], 21(2), 131-156. https://doi.org/10.12802/relime.18.2121
Arévalo, M. P., Fernández, J. M., & Sanjuán, E. L. (2015). Intuición y probabilidad [Intuition and probability]. LI Olimpiada Matemática Española [LI Spanish Mathematical Olympiad], 2015, 83.
Bar-Hillel, M., & Falk, R. (1982). Some teasers concerning conditional probabilities. Cognition, 11(2), 109-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0277(82)90021-X
Batanero, C. (2006). Razonamiento probabilístico en la vida cotidiana: Un desafío educativo. Investigación en el aula de matemáticas [Probabilistic reasoning in everyday life: An educational challenge. Research in the mathematics classroom]. In Proceedings of Statistics and Chance (pp. 1-17).
Batanero, C., Begué, N., & Gea, M. M. (2018). ¿Cómo desarrollar el sentido del muestreo en los estudiantes? [How to develop the sense of sampling in students?] In Proceedings of the 3^rd Colombian Meeting of Stochastic Education.
Batanero, C., Cañadas, G., Arteaga, P., & Contreras, J. M. (2014). La paradoja del niño o niña: Aplicaciones para la clase de probabilidad [The boy or girl paradox: Applications for the class of probability]. Revista Digital Matemática [Mathematics Digital Magazine], 14(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.18845/rdmei.v14i1.1562
Batanero, C., Hernández-Solís, L. A., Gea, M. M., & Álvarez-Arroyo, R. (2021). Comparing probabilities in urns: A study with primary school students. Uniciencia, 35(2), 129-143. https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.35-2.9
Diccionario de la Lengua Española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language]. (2021). Real Academia Española, 23.ª ed., versión 23.4 en línea [Royal Spanish Academy, 23rd ed., version 23.4 online]. https://dle.rae.es
Escobar, B. R. P., Carhautocto, G. R., Salazar, C. A. H., & Sánchez, W. A. C. (2022). Competencias transversales en el contexto educativo universitario: Un pensamiento crítico desde los principios de gamificación [Transversal competences in the university educational context: Critical thinking from the principles of gamification]. Revista Prisma Social [Social Prism Magazine], 38, 158-178.
Frassia, M. G., & Serpe, A. (2017). Computer-based activity’s development for probability education in high school. In Proceedings of the International Conference on New Horizon in Education.
Koparan, T., & Yilmaz, G. K. (2015). The effect of simulation-based learning on prospective teachers’ inference skills in teaching probability. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 3(11), 775-786. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2015.031101
Lesser, L. M., & Glickman, M. E. (2009). Using magic in the teaching of probability and statistics. Model Assisted Statistics and Applications, 4(4), 265-274. https://doi.org/10.3233/MAS-2009-0137
Lukác, S., & Gavala, T. (2019). Interactive learning environment supporting visualization in the teaching of probability. ICTE Journal, 8(1), 48-60. https://doi.org/10.2478/ijicte-2019-0005
Marín-Díaz, V. (2015). La gamificación educativa. Una alternativa para la enseñanza creative [Educational gamification. An alternative for creative teaching]. Digital Education Review, 27.
Martins, R. M. D. C. (2018). Learning the principles of simulation using the birthday problem. Teaching Statistics, 40(3), 108-111. https://doi.org/10.1111/test.12164
Maxara, C., & Biehler, R. (2006). Students’ probabilistic simulation and modeling competence after a computer-intensive elementary course in statistics and probability. In Proceeding of the 7^th International Conference on the Teaching of Statistics (pp. 1-6).
Memnun, D. S., Ozbilen, O., & Dinc, E. (2019). A qualitative research on the difficulties and failures about probability concepts of high school students. Journal of Educational Issues, 5(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.5296/jei.v5i1.14146
Mezhennaya, N. M., & Pugachev, O. V. (2018). On the results of using interactive education methods in teaching Probability Theory. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 76(5), 678. https://doi.org/10.33225/pec/18.76.678
Nickerson, J. A., & Zenger, T. R. (2004). A knowledge-based theory of the firm. The problem-solving perspective. Organization Science, 15(6), 617-632. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1040.0093
Ramiro-Miranda, A., López Valencia, M. L., & Serra, S. V. (2022). Percepciones de estudiantes de fonoaudiología sobre el aprendizaje basado en simulación y gamificación [Speech-language pathology students’ perceptions of simulation-based learning and gamification]. Educación Médica Superior [Higher Medical Education], 36(2).
Rodríguez-Alveal, F., Díaz-Levicoy, D., & Vásquez-Ortiz, C. (2018). Evaluación de la alfabetización probabilística del profesorado en formación y en activo [Assessment of the probabilistic literacy of teachers in training and active]. Estudios Pedagógicos (Valdivia) [Pedagogical Studies (Valdivia)], 44(1), 135-156. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07052018000100135
Rosado, R., Castillo, R., Yescas, F., & Santiago, R. (2017). Probabilidad y estadística con gamificación y aprendizaje adaptativo [Probability and statistics with gamification and adaptive learning]. Proyecto Novus 2016 [Novus Project 2016].
Ruiz, E. F. (2018). Empleo de aplicaciones tecnológicas en el tratamiento de temas de probabilidad y estadística. Dificultades presentadas por los estudiantes en la formulación de planteamientos correctos [Use of technological applications in the treatment of probability and statistics issues. Difficulties presented by students in the formulation of correct approaches]. Revista Iberoamericana Para la Investigación y el Desarrollo Educativo [Iberoamerican Journal for Educational Research and Development], 8(16), 216-245. https://doi.org/10.23913/ride.v8i16.339
Tintle, N., Chance, B., Cobb, G., Roy, S., Swanson, T., & VanderStoep, J. (2015). Combating anti-statistical thinking using simulation-based methods throughout the undergraduate curriculum. The American Statistician, 69(4), 362-370. https://doi.org/10.1080/00031305.2015.1081619
Vásquez-Ortiz, C., & Alsina, Á. (2017). Aproximación al conocimiento común del contenido para enseñar probabilidad desde el modelo del conocimiento didáctico-matemático [Approach to common content knowledge to teach probability from the didactic-mathematical knowledge model]. Educación Matemática [Mathematics Education], 29(3), 79-108. https://doi.org/10.24844/EM2903.03
Zamora, I. (2014). Desarrollo de la intuición probabilística en educación primaria [Development of probabilistic intuition in primary education] [Master’s thesis, Universidad de Valladolid].

How to cite this article

APA

Ramírez-Contreras, A., Zúñiga-Silva, L., & Ojeda-Gómez, E. (2023). A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 18(4), em0749. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586

Vancouver

Ramírez-Contreras A, Zúñiga-Silva L, Ojeda-Gómez E. A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2023;18(4):em0749. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586

AMA

Ramírez-Contreras A, Zúñiga-Silva L, Ojeda-Gómez E. A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school. INT ELECT J MATH ED. 2023;18(4), em0749. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586

Chicago

Ramírez-Contreras, Alejandro, Leopoldo Zúñiga-Silva, and Ezequiel Ojeda-Gómez. "A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education 2023 18 no. 4 (2023): em0749. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586

Harvard

Ramírez-Contreras, A., Zúñiga-Silva, L., and Ojeda-Gómez, E. (2023). A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 18(4), em0749. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586

MLA

Ramírez-Contreras, Alejandro et al. "A study on mathematics students’ probabilistic intuition for decision-making in high school". International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, vol. 18, no. 4, 2023, em0749. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/13586